Push button timer or counter



P. D. PAGE PUSH BUTTON TIMER 0R COUNTER Jan. 7, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 13, 1961 INVENTOR.

PHYLLIS D. PAGE ATTORNEY Jan. 7, 1964 P. D. PAGE PUSH BUTTON TIMER 0RCOUNTER 2 Sheets-sheaf, 2

Filed Feb. 15, 19s;

IN V EN TOR. PHYLLIS D. PAGE ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,117,191PUSH BUTTON TIMER 0R COUNTER Phyllis Dillman Page, Aldan, Pa., assignorto Automatic Timing & Controls, Inc., King of Prussia, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 88,877 12Claims. (Cl. Nth-39) This invention relates to timing or countingdevices and in particular to such devices actuated by pressure on apushbutton.

Timing devices are of many types including those having a rotatingindicator which is coupled to a rotary driving means. An example of sucha device may be found in US. Patent No. 2,885,001 to E. Brown issued onMay 5, 1959. The operation of the timer disclosed in that patent wasinitiated by an external electrical switch which actuated a solenoid ofa relay which, in turn, operated a clutch for coupling the indicator tothe rotary driving means. The necessity for this switch plus the relayand the wiring incident thereto tends to make this type of timerrelatively complicated and expensive.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a noveltimer which does not require actuation by an external electrical switch.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a timer which canbe constructed at lower cost than those hitherto available.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a relativelysimple timer mechanism.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a timer of relativelysimple construction which may easily be disassembled for adjustment orrepair.

Other pushbutton timers are known in which the timer motor energizationcircuit is directly coupled electrically to the load circuit undercontrol. This arrangement has a number of disadvantages such as, forexample, the impossibility or impracticality of controlling a 220 voltdevice from the timers 110 volt motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timer in which provisionis made for independence of the timed load circuit from the timer motorcircuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timer which may easilybe disassembled for maintenance and repair.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a simple latchingmechanism for revolution counters, electrical impulse counters and thelike.

Still other objects of the invention will appear from a perusal of thespecification, drawings, and claims herein.

In accordance with my invention I provide a pushbutton-actuated timingdevice wherein pressure on the pushbutton moves an actuating memberhaving a selected number of fingers into position to actuate acorresponding selected number of switches which energize the timersmotor and the controlled load circuits. The pressure on the buttoncauses a latch to lock the actuator in the switch actuating position. Atthe same time, the latch locks a time indicator hand into engagementwith a clutch thereby causing the hand to commence rotation due to theaction of the timer motor. At the end of the desired timing cycle, theindicator hand operates a latch release assembly which releases theactuator. The released actuator simultaneously releases the switchesthereby cutting off the timer motor and the timed load circuit, and alsouncouples the indicator hand from the clutch. In another form of theinvention, the device is used as a revolution counter by dispensing withthe driving motor (and switches, if desired) and coupling the clutch toan external rotating member whose revolutions are to be counted orlimited. In yet another form the device may be used to count apreselected number of electrical im- 'ice pulses by making the drivingmotor a pulse-actuated stepping motor.

Whatever the particular form the embodiment of the invention may take,the clutch assembly is so coupled to the latching mechanism that it maybe disengaged therefrom by a simple vertical movement thereby enablingthe timer to be separated into two parts for ease of maintenance orrepair.

FIGURE 1 is an exploded, partly-sectional, and isometric front view ofthe novel timing device herein;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view of the timer with its indicator andstop hands and part of its faceplate shown in phantom;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation and partly-sectional view of the timingdevice taken along the section line 33 in FIG. 2 and showing details ofthe faceplate, knob and pushbutton assembly.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view taken along the section line 44 of FIG. 3showing the latching mechanism in the switch actuating position and thetripping assembly;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view also taken along the section line 44 of FIG. 3showing the latching mechanism in the non-actuating position and thetripping assembly; and

FIGURE 6 is a plan and partly sectional view taken along the sectionline 6-6 in FIG. 2 which shows details of the indicator shaft as relatedto the switch actuator mechanism.

Referring primarily to FIGURE 1, but also to the other figures afaceplate 11 may be made of an appropriate molded thermoplastic materialhaving formed thereon, as by embossing, numerical indicia representing,for example, selected time intervals such as seconds and fractionsthereof. Alternatively, the faceplate may be completely transparent andthere may be a dial with indicia printed on the mounting plate 35. Aknob 13 is provided which is fixedly connected (as by a set screw, notshown) to a shaft 14 that passes through an aperture in the faceplate11. On the other side of the faceplate a setting hand 15 is connected toa shaft 14. Mounted coaxially with the knob and shaft 14 is a pushbutton20 which is normally urged outward by a spring 21 which encircles ashaft 22 attached to the pushbutton. The shaft 22 passes through a roundopening in the shaft 14, the shaft 22 being prevented from moving out ofthe bore of shaft 14 by a retaining ring 23 (FIG. 3) or equivalentdevice located at the end of shaft 22.

Indicator and Clutch Assembly A time-indicating hand 25 is fixedlymounted to the end of a shaft 26 which passes through an aperture 27 ina disc-shaped clutch 30. The edge of the disc 30 has a hollowed outportion 31 in which is set a resilient 0- ring 32 made of rubber, or thelike. The foregoing general construction is largely shown and describedin US. Patent 2,885,001 issued to E. R. Brown on May 5, 1959 andpossesses numerous advantages among them being greater resolution. Whenthe timer is actuated the flanged detent portion 25a bears against theO-ring 32 in a manner to be described below. The disc 30 is connected toa hollow shaft 29 (FIG. 3) which extends through the mounting plate 35,the other end of the hollow shaft 29 being fixedly attached to a drivengear 36. The gear 36 also has a central aperture to permit passage ofthe shaft 26 therethrough.

The shaft 26 is also coupled by means of cylindrical member 37 mountedfixedly thereon to a spiral ring 40 whose other end is fixedly connectedabout a member 42 protruding from the rear surface of plate 35. Thus, asthe time indicator hand 25 and its shaft 26 are moved in a clockwisedirection, the spring 40 exerts a counterclockwise torque thereupon.When the hand 25 is disi/ engaged from the clutch disc 30 it is thespring 40 which resets the hand 25 into contact wtih setting hand 15.

To the rear of the spring 40 there is fixedly connected to shaft 26 acylindrical collar 44 on the left (or forward) side of an actuating leafmember 50. On the right (or rear) side of actuator 50 a T-sectionedwasher 45 (see FIGS. 3 and 6) is located which is urged into contactwith collar 44 through a keyhole aperture 52 in actuator 50 by theaction of spring 54. The spring is moored against a washer 56 which iskept in place by a retaining ring 57 in the groove 58. The spring 54aids in returning the shaft 26 to its forward position once the timingcycle has been completed. It also helps to keep the hand 25, when thepushbutton is depressed, into contact with the O-ring 32 even if thedimensions of those two members are not strictly according topredetermined specifications. The aperture 52 consists of a lower,essentially circular aperture 52a which overlaps somewhat on a higher,somewhat smaller, mostly circular aperture 52b through which the shaftportion 26 passes (see FIG. 6) when the timer is operatively assembled.The aperture 52 is constructed in this fashion for reasons which will beexplained in more detail below. It will be noted that the actuator 50 isprovided with a number of hemispheric protuberances or bosses 46 (FIG.6). These bear against the rear surface of collar 44 and the frontflanged surface of washer 4S and are inserted to lessen the frictionbetween these surfaces which might otherwise impede free rotation of theshaft 26.

The actuator 54 pivots about a pin 51 which passes through alignedapertures in its rearwardly-extending flanges 53 and is normally biasedoutwardly by a spring 55 (FIGURE 3). The actuator has two fingers 63 and64 which are angled somewhat and which depress the buttons 65 and 56 ofswitches 70 and 71 respectively when the actuator 59 is moved backwards.The switches 70 and 71 are mounted on the front surface of a circularterminal block 85 in which a desired number of terminal screws arelocated for connection to switches 74) and 71 and to external circuitsto be controlled.

Clutch Drive Assembly The indicating hand 25 and its shaft 26 are notpart of the clutch drive system which comprises the driven gear 35, thedriving gear 62, shaft 61 and motor 60. The motor 60 drives theindicator hand 25 by means of a drive shaft 61 which passes through theinsulating terminal block 85. To the shaft 51 is attached a driving gear62 which meshes with the driven gear 36. When the motor 60 is energizedby the actuation of one of the switches 76 or 71 the gear 62 turnscounter-clockwise (as seen from the faceplate) causing the gear 36 andthe disc member 30 fixedly connected thereto to revolve in a clockwisedirection.

Setting of the Timer It will first be assumed that the setting knob 13is rotated by the operator so that the stop flange 15a of member 15 islocated opposite the numeral on the faceplate 11. With the motor 64)de-energized the indicator hand 25 is normally biased in acounter-clockwise direction because of the action of spring 45 since thehand 25 and its flanged detent portion 25a do not engage the resilientO-ring 32. The hand 25 is pushed forward out of contact with the disc 39by the action of the spring 55 which urges the actuator 50 forward whenthe pushbutton 20 has not been depressed. Thus the indicator 25 willhave rotated counter-clockwise until it comes to rest in contact withthe detent flange a of the member 15.

Starting the Timer When the operator of the timing device depresses thepushbutton 25 its associated shaft 22 pushes the indicator shaft 26toward the right (backward) which in turn causes the collar 4-4 to pivotthe actuator 51 backwards. The backward movement of the actuator 50 hastwo main effects. First, the actuator fingers 63 and 64 depress thebuttons 55 and 66 (FIG. 6) respectively of the switches 75 and 71. Theactuation of the switch 70, for example, may cause the timer motor 6% tobe energized so that the shaft 61 rotates the disc 30 via gears 62 and36. The actuation of switch 71 may, for example, initiate the operationor energization of the circuit being controlled. Second, the movement ofthe actuator toward the right also causes the detent 25a to bite intothe resilient O-ring 32 so that it will move with the disc 39. Unlessthe shaft 26 is locked into its backward position, however, the actuator50 will move forward again because of the bias spring 55.

Latelzing Mechanism To lock the shaft 26 and the actuator 50 into thebackward position once the pushbutton 20 has been depressed a bifurcatedlatch 30 is provided which pivots about a pin 78. This latch 8% passesthrough an essentially rectangular aperture 75 toward the top of theactuator 5t). Cut into one of the edges of latch 85 are a shallowforward notch 76 adjacent a deep rearward notch 77.

The latch 84) (see also FIGS. 4 and 5) is urged toward the right by atension spring 79 one of Whose ends engages an aperture therein, andwhose other end is fastened to a projection 81 that is part of amounting plate 82 which is aflixed to the terminal block 85. Thus, whenthe actuator 5th is moved to the rear by the axial movement of shaft 26the inner right edge of the aperture 75 will engage the deep notch 77thereby locking the actuator in the switcl -actuating position andsimultaneously cocking a tripping mechanism.

"Tripping [Mechanism It will be seen that the latch 85 has twofinger-shaped portions 81; and 87 through which a vertical pin 88extends. The pin 83 is mounted fixedly in a block 89 which movespivotally about a pivot member 95 in a generally horizontal direction.The pivot member 94) is fixedly connected to the upper surface of ahorizontal portion 82a of the mounting plate 82. On one side of theblock 89 is fixedly mounted a trip arm 91 which protrudes through anaperture 92 in the plate 35. To the right of the arm 91 (as seen fromthe front) there is a solid protruding member 93 fixed (or formed in)the plate 35 for limiting the movement of the trip arm 91 toward theright.

When the actuator 50 is moved to the switch-actuating position, i.e.,when its aperture 75 engages the deeper notch 77, the pivotal movementof the latch 80 toward the right causes the pin 88 to move in the samedirection which, in turn, causes the block 89 to pivot so that the triparm 91 is moved to the left where it coincides with the 0 on thefaceplate 11.

Operation When the button 2th is depressed and the actuator is locked inits rear (deeper notch) position (FIG. 4) the switch 70 starts t e motorwhich turns the shaft 61 cansing the gear 62 to rotate whereupon thedisc 30 rotates with the hand 25 which has been brought into lockingengagement with the resilient member 32. Since the gear 36 moves in aclockwise direction, the indicator 25 will move similarly until at 0 itsdetent 25a nudges the protruding trip arm 91 toward the right. When thishappens, the block 89 will pivot counter-clockwise (as seen from above)so that the pin 88 will be urged to the left thereby causing the latch81) to pivot toward the same direction. When the latch 80 moves towardthe left, the actuator 50 is urged outward by the action of the biasspring (and spring 54) until the inner right hand edge of the aperture 75 is locked in the shallower notch 76. The movement of the actuator 59away from the switches 70 and '71 causes the fingers 63 and 64 torelease the buttons and 65 so that the switches '75 and 71 are no longeractuated. De-energization of the switch cuts off the motor 50 and hencethe gear 62 no longer drives the disc 30. Also, at the same time, theoutward movement of the actuator 50 due to spring 55 has caused thecollar 44 and shaft 26 to move in an outward direction and thus theindicator hand 25 no longer engages the clutch disc 30 with the resultthat the indicator member 25 is free and is urged to the pre-set stopposition of the arm 15 by the counter-clockwise torque imparted to theshaft 26 by the spiral spring 40.

Disassembly One of the important features of the present invention isthe provision for rapid and simple disassembly of the apparatus.Actually, the timer may be considered to consist of two main parts. Thefirst consists of the forward half of the timer, i.e., the faceplate andknob mechanism, the clutch, indicator hand and shaft assembly, and thespring 40. The second part i.e., the rear part of the timer may beconsidered to consist of the actuator, the latch, the trip mechanism,the terminal block, and the motor. Separation of the two parts from oneanother once the outer cover (not shown) is taken off may beaccomplished by removing the spacer studs (FIG. 2) (which, for example,may be screwed into the terminal block) and then slipping out the frontportion by moving it downward so that the eyelet member 45 is able topass through the aperture 52a, then pulling the front section forward.The simplicity of this disassembly permits fast and easy access to bothparts for maintenance or repair. Reassembly is similarly facilitated.

Use in Revolution Counter While the invention has been explained interms of a timing mechanism, it should be kept in mind that it has usesin other types of devices as well. Thus, for example, it may be used inso-called revolution counters which are designed to measure the numberof revolutions of a rotating body until a predetermined number of themcause the termination of an operation or the commencement of another.

When used as a revolution counter, the device would differ from the oneillustrated herein in the following main ways. First, there would not bea motor 60 to drive the shaft 61 but instead the shaft 61 would becoupled as by an intermediate gear system to the mechanism whoserevolutions are to be counted. Furthermore, the actuator 50 need notnecessarily have any fingers such as the fingers 63 and 64 unless, theactuator 50 is intended, at the end of the count of the predeterminednumber of revolutions to stop or otherwise govern the device whoserevolutions are being counted or to initiate or terminate anotherelectrical operation. Of course, depending upon the nature of theapparatus or equipment being counted by the counter, the indicia on thefaceplate 11 would be correspondingly modified. In most other salientcharacteristics, the structure and operation of the mechanism would beessentially the same as when it performed as a timer. The operator wouldset the setting knob 13 to the desired number of revolutions, since theshaft 26 would be pushed forward so that the hand 25 did not engage theclutch ring 32 the hand 25 would follow the setting of the detent 15a.When the operator pushed in the button the shaft 26 would cause thecollar 44 to bear against the actuator 50 which would then lock into thedeeper notch 77 thereby pushing the trip arm 91 over into alignment withthe O marked on the faceplate 11. At the same time indicator hand wouldbe locked into engagement with O-ring 32. As the shaft 26 was pressedrearward the switch 70 could, for example, cause the shaft whoserevolutions are to be counted to commence rotation. As the latter shaftturned it would cause similar rotation of the shaft 61 which would drivethe disc 30 and the hand 25 which would begin to indicate on thefaceplate 11 the remaining number of revolutions in the cycle. Uponcompletion of the cycle, the detent 25a would nudge the trip arm 91toward the right whereupon the latch 80 would release the actuator whichwould then be urged forward by spring and the switch would be shut offthereby de-energizing the source of power for the shaft whoserevolutions were counted. If another switch is used in conjunction withthe switch 70 the former could, at the end of the cycle, energize asignal such as a light or hell, for example.

Impulse Counter The invention could also be used in an electricalimpulse counter. For this purpose the structure would be essentially thesame as that shown except that it would be provided with a steppingmotor which would revolve the shaft 26 only by incremental stepscorresponding to electrical pulses applied to the motor. The motor couldconsist of a solenoid to which the impulses would be applied, therebeing an armature within the solenoids internal field which would bemoved axially by the fields set up by the current pulses. The armaturewould be coupled by an appropriate mechanical linkage to a two-toothedpallet which would drive, first with one tooth, then the other, atoothed wheel mounted coaxially on the end of a shaft. This shaft woulddrive, directly or indirectly (through gears) the shaft 61 to advancethe indicator hand a discrete amount for each impulse. After apredetermined number of impulses the hand would trip the latch releasemechanism as explained above.

Still other forms of the invention are possible which do not depart fromthe essence of this invention and will occur to those skilled in the artupon reading of this specification. Consequently, this invention shouldbe limited only by the claims herein.

I claim:

1. In combination: a rotating member mounted on a shaft, clutch means,rotary driving means coupled to said clutch means, a member coupled tosaid shaft and responsive to axial movement thereof in a first directionby corresponding movement primarily in said direction, said membernormally being biased in a direction opposite the said first direction,latching means mounted for movement substantially transverse to theaxial movement of said shaft for locking said biased member and saidshaft in a predetermined position when said shaft is moved in said firstdirection, said rotating member thereupon being brought into lockedengagement with said clutch means whereupon rotary motion imparted tosaid clutch means by said driving means may be transmitted to saidrotating member, and means responsive to movement thereof by saidrotating member for releasing said latch whereupon said biased member isurged in a direction opposite said first direction and causes said shaftand said rotating member to be disengaged from said clutch.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said clutch means has afirst geared portion, wherein said rotary driving means includes a motorassembly having a second geared portion which meshes with said firstgeared portion and drives the latter portion when said motor isenergized, and wherein said rotating member indicates the expiration ofa predetermined time interval.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said clutch means has afirst geared portion, wherein said rotary driving means includes acurrentdmpulse stepping motor assembly having a second geared portionwhich meshes with said first geared portion and drives the latter whenthe motor is energized by said impulses, and wherein said rotatingmember indicates a number of said impulses.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said rotary driving meansincludes means for coupling said driving means to an external rotatingbody whose revolutions are to be counted and wherein said rotatingmember indicates a number of said revolutions.

5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein means are provided coaxialwith said shaft for exerting axial pressure on said shaft.

6. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said biased member issubstantially planar and pivotally mounted and wherein said latchingmeans includes a substantially planar pivoted member which has at leastone notch therein which engages an edge of said biased member to lockthe latter in said predetermined position.

7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein said latching means isnormally biased in a second direction substantially perpendicular tosaid first direction, and wherein said releasing means, in response tomovement of said rotating member, moves said latching means in adirection opposite said second direction thereby permitting said biasedmember to move in the direction of its normal bias.

8. The invention according to claim 6 wherein said biased planar memberhas a selected number of switchactuating portions and wherein a selectednumber of switches are disposed in proximity to said actuating portionsand adapted to be actuated thereby.

9, An indicating device comprising: at least one switch for controllingselected circuits, means movable primarily in a first direction foractuating said switch by pressure thereupon, means movable in a seconddirection substantially perpendicular to said first direction forlocking said actuating means in either of two positions, one of saidpositions being one in which said switch is actuated and the other beingone in which said switch is not actuated, means including a shaft formoving said actuating means in said first direction, an indicatorcoupled to said shaft, means responsive to pressure in said firstdirection for causing said moving means to move in said first directionwhereupon said locking means locks said actuating means in saidactuating position and said indicator is moved into locked contact witha rotary member, means responsive to actuation of said switch forrotating said rotary member and said indicator, and means responsive tomovement by said indicator for releasing said locking means at the endof a predetermined rotary movement of said indicator in a givendirection whereupon said actuating means reverts to the position inwhich said switch is not actuated and said rotary member ceases rotationin said given direction.

10. A timer comprising: a switch for controlling an operation to betimed, an actuator member mounted to move in a first direction intocontact with said switch for actuating the latter, means for normallybiasing said actuator to move in a second direction opposite said firstdirection thereby to prevent said contact, latch means mounted to engagesaid actuator and to limit its movement in said first and seconddirections, said latch means normally being biased in a third directionsubstantially perpendicular to said first and second directions, saidlatch means locking said actuator into actuating contact with saidswitch upon predetermined movement of said actuator in said firstdirection, a rotating time indicator means, means coupled to saidindicator means and to said actuator for moving said actuator in saidfirst direction thereby to cause said latch to lock said actuator intocontact with said switch, a device for transmitting pressure in saidfirst direction to said last named moving means, and means responsive tomovement by said indicator for moving said latch substantially in afourth direction opposite said third direction whereupon said actuatoris moved in said second direction by said bias applied thereto and saidswitch-actuating contact is broken.

11. A timer comprising: a rotatable hand mounted on a shaft, a rotatingclutch member having resilient means thereupon and having a centralaperture through which said shaft passes, first and second pressuresensitive switches, an actuator member pivotally mounted near saidswitches and being normally biased to pivot in a direction away fromsaid switches, said actuating member having two fingers which pressagainst said switches when said member pivots toward said switches, acoupling between said shaft and said actuator member for impelling saidactuator to pivot toward said switches in response to axial movement ofsaid shaft toward said switches, said actuator member having an aperturetherein, a bifurcated latch passing through said aperture and having aselected number of notches therein, said latch being mounted to pivotsubstantially transversely to the axial movement of said shaft and beingbiased in a direction such that one of said number of notches engages anedge of said aperture, said latch, in response to movement of said shaftaxially a predetermined distance, locking said fingers intopressure-exerting relation on said switches for actuating the same, saidarm being simultaneously locked into pressure-exerting relation on saidclutch member, means coaxial with said shaft for transmitting pressureto said shaft to move the shaft axially, means including a pin passingthrough the bifurcated portion of said latch for responding to movementby said rotating arm by causing said latch to pivot opposite its normaldirection of bias, said actuator thereupon being impelled away from saidswitches and released from pressure thereupon, said latch thereafterengaging said aperture edge to limit the movement of said actuator, saidmovement of said actuator also causing said shaft and hand to movesimilarly whereupon said hand is disengaged from said clutch.

12. In combination: a rotating member coupled to a shaft, clutch means,means including rotary driving means coupled to said clutch means forcausing said clutch means to rotate, a member coupled to said shaftwhich responds to axial movement thereof in a first direction bycorresponding movement primarily in the same direction, latching meansfor locking said member when moved a predetermined distance in saidfirst direction, said rotating member thereupon being brought intolocked engagement with said clutch means whereupon rotary motionimparted to said clutch means by said driving means is imparted to saidrotating member, and means responsive to said rotating member in motionfor mechanically releasing said latch whereupon said biased member isurged in a direction opposite said first direction thereby disengagingsaid rotating member from said clutch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNETED STATES PATENTS2,025,511 Johnson Dec. 24, 1935 2,697,984 Kurek Nov. 2, 1937 2,585,018Kreitchman et al. Feb. 12, 1952 2,996,585 Lehde Aug. 15, 1961

1. IN COMBINATION: A ROTATING MEMBER MOUNTED ON A SHAFT, CLUTCH MEANS,ROTARY DRIVING MEANS COUPLED TO SAID CLUTCH MEANS, A MEMBER COUPLED TOSAID SHAFT AND RESPONSIVE TO AXIAL MOVEMENT THEREOF IN A FIRST DIRECTIONBY CORRESPONDING MOVEMENT PRIMARILY IN SAID DIRECTION SAID MEMBERNORMALLY BEING BIASED IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE THE SAID FIRST DIRECTION,LATCHING MEANS MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT SUBSTANTIALLY TRANSVERSE TO THEAXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SHAFT FOR LOCKING SAID BIASED MEMBER AND SAIDSHAFT IN A PREDETERMINED POSITION WHEN SAID SHAFT IS MOVED IN SAID FIRSTDIRECTION, SAID ROTATING MEMBER THEREUPON BEING BROUGHT INTO LOCKEDENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CLUTCH MEANS WHEREUPON ROTARY MOTION IMPARTED TOSAID CLUTCH MEANS BY SAID DRIVING MEANS MAY BE TRANSMITTED TO SAIDROTATING MEMBER, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT THEREOF BY SAIDROTATING MEMBER FOR RELEASING SAID LATCH WHEREUPON SAID BIASED MEMBER ISURGED IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE SAID FIRST DIRECTION AND CAUSES SAID SHAFTAND SAID ROTATING MEMBER TO BE DISENGAGED FROM SAID CLUTCH.